Machine for making wrappers



Jan. 31, 1939. F, PARRY MACHINE FOR MAKING WRAPPERS Filed June 23, 193'?4 She'ets-Sheet l Jan. 31, 1939. F. PARRY MACHINE FOR MAKING WRAPPERSFiled June 23, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 31, 1939. F. PARRY 2,145,524

MACHINE FOR MAKING WRAPPERS Filed June 23, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan.31, 1939. F. PARRY 2,145,524

MACHINE FOR MAKING WRAPPERS Filed June 25, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [12 mmZora Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES alum FOR MAKING Frank Parry,Deptford, London, England, assignor to Molina Machine Company, Limi don,England ted, Lon- Applioation June 23, 1937, Serial No. 149,972

14' Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to machines for makingwrappers, and refers to a method of and apparatus for reinforcinglengths of wrapping material by pleatins them.

Where herein theterm "lengthwise is used, it is deemed to mean thelength of the wrapping material considered in the direction in which thepleat is formed.

According to 'one form of the invention there is provided a method ofpleating wrapping material (e. g. material formed from a cellulosederivative) comprising the steps of forming an inverted channellengthwise of the wrapping material, folding a part of the channeltowards a portion of the wrapping material which extends laterally ofthe pleat which is being formed and towards another part of the channel,and'securing the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.

The folds of the pleat may be secured by adhesive placed between thefolds or by interlocking (for example by knurling or crimping) thefolds, or by both adhesive placed between the folds and by interlocking(e. g. by knurling or crimping) the folds. The channel may be ofsubstantially rectangular section, and the opposed sides of the channelmove towards each other and fold it against portions of the wrappingmaterial which extend laterally of the channel to form a box pleat. Thechannel may be formed by moving the wrapping material lengthwise abovethe support about which the channel is formed, and whilst the wrappingmaterial is being so moved depressing about the support those portionsof the wrapping material which extend laterally of the support.

Further, according to the invention there is provided mechanism forpleating wrapping material, comprising a support about which thewrapping material is folded, means to move the wrapping materiallengthwise over the support,

folding elements to fold the wrapping material about the support to forman inverted channel lengthwise of the material, means to engage a partof said channel and to fold it towards a portion of the wrappingmaterial extending laterally of the pleat which is being formed and tofold it towards another part of the channel, and means to secure thefolds of the pleat relatively to one another.

The wrapping material may be moved about said support and the foldingelements arranged to depress aboutthe support those portions of thewrapping material which ext nd laterally Great Britain August 28, 1936of the support. Means may be provided gradually to bow the wrappingmaterial transversely to the direction in which it is moved .towards thesupport for the purpose of reducing the lateral tension in the wrappingmaterial whilst the inverted channel is being formed.

One way of carrying the invention into eflect will be described by wayof example with refer ence to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pleating mechanism constructedaccording to the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1, the reel of. wrapping material beingomitted.

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1 in the direction of arrow A.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the folding devices shown inFigure 1. v

Figure 5 is a detail of a folding element.

Figures 6, '7 and 8 are partial sections on lines I--I, I.[II andI1I-1II in Figure 1.

' Figures 9, 10 and 11 show a pleat in various stages of formation.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a reel {lfof wrapping material is mounted ona bracket-5 on the frame 1 of the machine and is provided with a tensiondevice (not shown) consisting of a well known form of friction brakesuch as is used when feeding paper from reels. The wrapping material maybe of any suitable kind but in the present instance is formed from acellulose derivative, and is material such for example as that soldunder the registered trade-mark Cellophane.

The continuous web of wrapping material is fed from the reel 4 by aseries of. feed rollers to be described later, and is passed between asupport 8 and a rigid guide 6 which opposes the support 8. The guide 6and support 8 each have a thickness equal to the width of a channelwhich is to be formed in the wrapping material, and the support 8 ispivoted at 9 to the frame 1 and is *controlled by a spring III which isarranged to urge the support upwardly towards the rigid guide 6. In the.construction shown the support 8 comprises a bell crank lever, and thetendency for the support to move upwardly is controlled by a screw orother adjusting means II.

On each side of the guide 6 there are arranged folding elements shown asplates l2 and I3, the under surfaces of which engage the wrappingmaterial and, when the mechanism is in operation are disposed in planesbelow that of the surface of the support 8 over which the material ismoved. The plates I2 and li'are connected together by brackets I4 andIS. The bracket 14 is connected by pivot I6 to the guide 8 which ispivoted to the machine frame at [1. The under surfaces of the plates i2and I; are bevelled or chamfered as indicated at l8 to cause the webgradually to be bowed and to take a cross-section in the form of a veryblunt inverted V as it is led between the guide 6 and support 8. As canbe seen from Figure 9, an inverted channel C formed is lengthwise of theweb and the purpose of gradually bowing the web is to reduce the lateraltension in the web due to the web being drawn together laterally duringthe forming of the channel C. It will of course -be appreciated that thewidth of the web is reduced by the formation of the channel, and sincethe web is in-' itially flat the width of the web gradually decreasesuntil the channel is formed.

The support 8 at one end engages with the guide 6 (Figures 1 and 4), andas stated above the under surfaces of the plates l2 and I3 are disposedin planes below that of the support over which the material is moved.The plates l2 and It, therefore, depress about the support thoseportions of the wrapping material which extend laterally of the supportand thereby cause an inverted channel of substantially rectangularsection as shown in Figure 9, to be formed.

The plates l2 and I3 support a pair of rollers I! which are freelyrotatable in bearings 20, one roller being supported by each plate. Therollers l9 co-operate with positively driven rollers 2| journalled inbearings 22 in the frame I. The rollers 2| are spaced apart as shown inFigure 6.

- The purpose of the co-operating rollers l9 and 2| is to feed the webof material lengthwise through the pleating mechanism and to assist informing the channel C.

The guide 6 extends beyond the range of action of the feeding rollers l9and 2|, and, if desired, the support 1 may also extend beyond this pointby forming it as a thin tongue which passes between the two rollers 2|.As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the support I terminates near the rollers2| and a roller 25 whose diameter is greater than that;.of the rollers2| is mounted between the rollers 2| and engages the guide 6. The thinroller 25 is loosely mounted on the shaft supporting the rollers 2| sothat the portions 2|a of the web which extend laterally of the channeland consequently of the pleat which is subsequently formed are fed bythe grip of the rollers I! and 2| while the material forming the channelis engaged by the co-operating surfaces of the guide 6 and roller 25.

After the inverted channel C has been formed the wrapping materialpasses an' adhesive applying device which comprises a rotatable disc 26mounted for rotation in a bath 21 of cellulose solvent or adhesive, thedisc being arranged to engage with the wall 2|b of the inverted channel.A suitable scraping device 28 is provided to remove excess solvent fromthe disc. At this position the guide 6 has a downward projection 60,Figure '1, which ensures that the wrapping material contacts with thedisc 26, the disc being grooved as shown in Figure '7. Where hereinafterand in the appended claims the term ad-' hesive" is used it shallinclude a cellulose solvent.

After passing the adhesive or solvent applying device the upstandingside walls 2|c of the inverted channel are engaged in a manner such thatthe lower longitudinal edges of the channel are moved towards each otherby elements 2. fixed to the guide 8, see Figure 8, which is drawn to anenlarged scale. The elements 29 engage with the side walls 2|c of theinverted channel and fold them towards those portions 2|a of thewrapping material which extend laterally of the pleat which is beingformed and towards the wall 2|b of the channel, see Figure 10. One ofthe elements 2! is shown in plan in Figure 5, and consists of a taperingwedge sectioned plate. It will be seen that, as just described, theadhesive applying device is disposed between the folding elements l2 andI2 and the means 29 which engages part of the channel and folds ittowards a portion of the wrapping material which extends laterally ofthe pleat which is being formed and towards another part of the channel.

The wrapping material as it passes from the elements 29 is moved betweenpressure rollers 30 and 3| which press the folds of the pleat and assistthe adhesive to secure the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.

One or both of the rollers II and 2| may be knurled but the constructionshown in the drawings in which the lower roller 2|, which is positivelydriven, is knurled, has been found to give better results than aconstruction in which the roller 20 is knurled. The knurling affords abetter grip on the pleat for feeding the material through the mechanism,and also causes the folds of the pleat to be interlocked, thus stillfurther securing the folds of the pleat relatively to one another.Further, the knurling helps to distinguish the pleat, being readilyapparent to the eye. Sharp knurling also serves to slightly perforatethe material and permit the adhesive to dry more rapidly and topercolate into the material of the pleat and hold it very firmlytogether.

It will be appreciated that if desired the folds of the pleat may besecured as above described by a combination of adhesive andinterlocking, by knurling or by adhesive alone or by knurling alone.Further, if desired the interlocking may be effected by crimping thepleat, the crimping being effected by means such as is sometimesemployed on cigarette making machines of the continuous rod type.

A table I, Figure 2, extends from a point near the rollers I! to a pointnear the rollers ill, 3| and serves to support the web as it passesbetween the elements 29, and, if desired, side wings may be fitted tothe support 8 to give support to the web as it passes beneath the platesl2, l3. The rollers 30, II which press the folds of the pleat serve toassist the rollers I! and 2| in feeding the wrapping material throughthe pleating mechanism. with some forms of cellulose solvent it is foundthat it is possible to add colouring matter without in any waydetracting from the adhesive properties of the solvent, and if it is sodesired such colouring matter can be added to the solvent so that whenthe pleat is completed it is also provided with colouring material whichdistinguishes the pleat from the remainder of the wrapping material.

The moving parts of the mechanism are driven by a bevel wheel 32 fromthe main drive of the machine'to which the mechanism is attached. Thiswheel 32 engages with another bevel wheel 32 to which is attached a spurgear 24 which drives a spur gear 35 fixed on the spindle of the roller2|. The gear 24 also drives a gear 36 fixed to the spindle of the disc26, the gear I! in turn driving an idler 31 which transmits motion to, agear 38 on the spindle of the rollers 2|.

When it is desired to start the mechanism the web of wrapping materialis first led between the feed rollers and the various parts of themechanism for forming the inverted channel. Normally the guide 8 is heldrigidly by a clamp bar 39 with a nut 40, Figure 2. and when it isdesired to inspect or clean the machine the whole of the upper structureviz. the guide 8, plates l2 and I3 and associated parts, may be raisedby releasing the clamp 39 and swinging the whole structure about thepivot This operation is not, however, necessary for merely threading theweb through the machine, as for this purpose the plates I 2 and 13together with the rollers carried thereby are raised by rotation aboutthe pivot It so that the under surfaces of the plates are level with orabove that surface of the support 8 about which the channel is formed.In order to do this the lever ll, Figure 1, which has an eccentric hubengaging the upper surface of the guide 8, is moved and the effect is tocause plates i2 and I3, which are fixed to the bracket l5 carrying'thelever 4|, to rotate about the pivot i6 and to move relatively to theguide 8, thus raising the plates l2 and I3 sufficiently -to enable theoperator to lead the, web between the guide 8 and the support 8. Thenormal relative positions of the plates l2, H with respect to the guide6 are adjusted by a screw 42 which rests on the guide 6 so that theplates i2 and I3 are supported thereby, and the weight of theplateskeeps them in the normal operative position. Further, to facilitate theinitial threading of the web the tension in the spring in controllingthe support 8 is released by movement of the lever 3, which also has aneccentric hub engaging the lower end of the bell crank forming thesupport 8, so that the support is moved out of engagement with the guide6. By this means a free passage is provided through which the web is ledin a flat condition to a position just prior to the position at whichthe web passes over the adhesive applying device. The plates l2 and I3and the support 8 are then returned to their operative positionswhereupon an inverted channel is immediately formed in the length ofwrapping material which has been threaded into the mechanism, andthereafter the lengthwise movement of the web of material is continuedby the feeding rollers above referred to.

If, as is usual, it is desired to thread the web of material through.the cutting mechanism of a wrapping machine the web may, after thechannel is formed by the initial threading operation be moved lengthwiseby means of a hand wheel 44 which is connected with the feeding rollers.After the machine has been completely threaded, that is to say, afterthe web of material has been passed through the pleating mechanism and,if desired, the cutting mechanism of the wrapping machine, theoperation'of the machine is continued from the main drive of themachine.

When using wrapping material formed from a cellulose derivative it issometimes found that difficulty is experienced in threading the wrappingmaterial through the cutting mechanism which severs wrapper lengths fromthe continuous web, and it is found that when the wrapping material isreinforced by pleating the material as above described, the feeding ofthe material through the cutting mechanism is greatly facilitated.

A length of the pleated wrapping material may be folded about an articleto provide a package, in any suitable known manner. a r

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial, comprising a yielding web support extending lengthwise of theweb and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the webextends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelledguide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extendingportions of the web about the support to form a channel in said web,means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide,means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and to fold ittowards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete the formingof the pleat and means to secure the folds of the pleat relatively toone another.

2. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial, comprisinga yielding web support extending lengthwise of theweb and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the webextends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelledguide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extendingportions of the web about the support to form a channel in said web,means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, thesurface of the support which engages the web and beyond which the webextends laterally converging towards said guide in the direction ofmovement of the web to permit gradual formation ofthe'channel in theweb, means to engage a. part of the channel formed in the web and tofold it towards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete theforming of the pleat and means to secure the folds of the pleatrelatively to one another.

3. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial, comprising a yielding web support extending lengthwise of theweb and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the webextends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelledguide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extendingportions of the web about the support to form a channel in said web,means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide,an'adhesive applying surface movable in the direction of movement of theweb and disposed in the channel formed in the web to apply adhesive to aside thereof, means to engage a part of the channel formed in the weband to fold it towards a laterally extending portion of the web tocomplete the forming of the pleat and means to press the folds of thepleat.

4. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in aweb of wrapping material,comprising a yielding web support extending lengthwise of the web anddisposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the web extendslaterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelled guidecooperating with the support to depress the laterally extending portionsof the web about the support to form a channel in said web, means tomove the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, an adhesiveapplying surface movable in the direction of movement of the web anddisposed in the channel formed in the web to apply adhesive to a sidethereof, means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and tofold it towards a lateraliy extending portion of the web to complete theforming of the pleat, and a pair of cooperating endless movable surfacesto press the folds of the pleat, at least one of such surfaces beingknurled to eflect interlocking of the folds of the pleat.

5. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial, comprising a yielding web support extending lengthwise of theweb and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the webextends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelledguide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extendingportions of the web about the support to form' a channel in said web,means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, anadhesive applying surface movable in the direction of movement of theweb and disposed in the channel formed in the web to apply adhesive to aside thereof, said means to move the web lengthwise being arranged toengage the web before the latter is engaged by the adhesive applyingsurface, means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and tofold it towards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete theforming of the pleat and means to press the folds of the pleat.

6. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial, comprisng a yielding web support extending lengthwise of theweb and disposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the webextends laterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelledguide cooperating with the support to depress the laterally extendingportions of the web about the support to form a channel in said web,means to move the web lengthwise between the support and the guide, saidguide having web engaging surfaces converging in the direction ofmovement of the web and cooperating with the support to bow andgradually to form the channel in the web, the surface of said supportwhich engages the web and beyond which the web extends laterallyconverging towards said guide in the direction of movement of the web,means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and to fold ittowards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete the formingof the pleat and means to secure the folds of the pleat relatively toone another.

7. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial, comprising a web support extending lengthwise of the web anddisposed between the longitudinal edges thereof whereby the web extendslaterally on opposite sides of the support, a rigid channelled guidecooperating with the support to depress the laterally extending portionsof the web about the supportto form a channel in said web, means to movethe web lengthwise between the support and the guide, an adhesiveapplying surface movable in the direction of movement of the web anddisposed in the channel formed in the web to apply adhesive to a sidethereof, said means to move the web lengthwise beingarranged to engagethe web before the latter is engaged by the adhesive applying surface,means to engage a part of the channel formed in the web and to fold ittowards a laterally extending portion of the web to complete the formingof the pleat and means to press the folds of the pleat.

'8. A device for forming a box pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial comprising means to move a web lengthwise, a rigid guideextending in the direction of movement of the web, said guide beingdisposed between the longitudinal edges of the web, a yielding websupport opposed to said guide to engage an area of the web substantiallyequal to and opposite to that engaged by said guide, a pair of foldingelements adjacent said guide and support and extending laterallytherefrom, said elements, considered in a direction transverse to thedirection of movement of the web, being disposed on each side of thecooperating guide and support, whereby a rectilinear channel havingthree sides is formed in the web, means to engage the opposed sides ofthe channel and to fold them towards each other to complete the formingof the box pleat and means to secure the folds of the pleat relativelyto one another.

9. A device for forming a box pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial comprising means to move a web lengthwise, a rigid guideextending in the direction of movement of the web, said guide beingdisposed between the longitudinal edges of the web, a yielding websupport opposed to said guide to engage an area of the web substantiallyequal to and opposite to that engaged by said guide, a pair offoldingelements adjacent said guide and support and extending laterallytherefrom, said elements considered in a direction transverse to thedirection of movement of the web, being disposed on each side of thecooperating guide and support, whereby a rectilinear channel havingthree sides'is formed in the web, an adhesive applying surface movablein the direction of movement of the web and disposed in the channel toapply adhesive to a side thereof, means to engage the opposed sides ofthe channel and to fold them towards each other to complete the formingof the box pleat and means to press the folds of the pleat.

10. A device for forming a box pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial comprising means to move a web lengthwise, a rigid guideextending in the direction of movement of the web, said guide beingdisposed between the longitudinal edges of the web, a yielding websupport opposed to said guide to engage an area of the web substantiallyequal to and opposite to that engaged by said guide, a pair of foldingelements adiacent said guide and support-and extending laterallytherefrom, said elements considered in a direction transverse to thedirection of movement of the web, being disposed on each side of thecooperating guide and support, whereby a rectilinear channel havingthree sides is formed in the web, an adhesive applying surface movablein the direction of movement of the web and disposed in the channel toapply adhesive to aside thereof, means to engage the opposed sides ofthe channel and to fold them towards each other to complete the formingof the box pleat, and a pair of cooperating endless movable surfaces topress the folds of the pleat, at least one of such surfaces beingknurled to effect interlocking of the folds of the pleat.

11. A device for forming a box pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial comprising means to move a web lengthwise, a rigid guideextending in the direction of movement of the web, said guide beingdisposed between the longitudinal edges of the web, a yielding websupport opposed to said guide to engage an area of the web substantiallyequal to and opposite to that engaged by said guide, a pair of foldingelements adjacent said guide and support and extending laterallytherefrom, said elements considered in a direction transverse to thedirection of movement of the web, being disposed on each side of thecooperating guide and support, where-' by a rectilinear channel havingthree sides is formed in the web, an adhesive applying surface movablein the direction of movement of the web and disposed in the channel toapply adhesive to a side thereof, said means to move the web lengthwisebeing arranged to engage the web before the latter is engaged by theadhesive applying surface, means to engage the opposed sides of thechannel and to fold them towards each other to complete the forming ofthe box pleat and means to press the folds of the pleat.

12. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial, comprising means to form an inverted channel lengthwise in aweb, means to apply adhesive to an under inner side of said channel,means to collapse the channel to complete the forming of the pleat andmeans to move the web lengthwise through said channel forming andcollapsing means, said means to move the web being arranged to engagethe web prior to the latter being engaged by the adhesive applyingmeans.

13. A device for forming a pleat lengthwise in a web of wrappingmaterial, comprising means to form an inverted channel lengthwise in aweb, a rotatable roller the periphery of which applies adhesive to anunder inner side of said channel, means to collapse the channel tocommeans to move a web lengthwise, a rigid guide extending in thedirection of movement of the web, a yielding web support opposed to saidguide to engage an area of the web substantially equal to and oppositeto that engaged by said guide,

a pair of folding elements adjacent said guide and support and extendinglaterally therefrom, said elements being movable relatively to saidguide to facilitate initial threading of the device and, considered in adirection transverse to the direction of movement of the web, disposedon each side of the cooperating guide and support, whereby a rectilinearchannel having three sides is formed in the web, means to engage theopposed sides of the channel and to fold them towards each other tocomplete the forming of the box pleat and means to secure the folds ofthe pleat relatively to one another.

FRANK PARRY.

